Lyr Req: The Broom o' the Cowdenknowes

Subject: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Mbo
Date: 12 May 00 - 04:43 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics to "The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes" as The Black Family sings it? I've found lots of versions...but they're not the same...can anyone help?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 May 00 - 05:09 PM

It's essentially the "non-ballad" version held on the DT:  Broom Of The Cowdenknowes,  with the following minor differences:

Chorus, line 3:
Fain would I be in my ain country

Verse 2, line 1:
She neither...

Verse 2, line 2:
While the flock a-sleeping lay

Verse 3:
It's hard that I should banished be
Gang o'er lea and moor
Because I love the fairest lass
That e'er on earth was born

Verse 4, line 1:
Adieu, ye bonny ewes, adieu

"ewes" is pronounced "yowes", of course.

Malcolm

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BROOM OF THE COWDENKNOWES
From: fulurum
Date: 12 May 00 - 05:22 PM

Of course we can:

How blithe was I each morn to see
My lass come o'er the hill!
She skipped the burn and ran to me.
I met her with good will.

CHORUS: Oh, the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,
The broom of the Cowdenknowes!
Fain would I be in my ane country,
Herding her father's ewes.

She neither herded ewes nor lambs
While the flock a-sleeping lay.
She gathered in the sheep at night
And cheered me all the day.
CHORUS: Oh, the broom...

It's hard that I should banished be
Gang o'er the lea and moor
Because I loved the fairest lass
That e'er on earth was born.
CHORUS: Oh, the broom...

Adieu, ye bonny ewes, adieu.
Farewell, all pleasure there.
To wander by her side again
Is all I crave or care.
CHORUS: Oh, the broom...

From the Black Family's / The Black Family CD DARA023

HTML line breaks, capitals, and punctuation added. --JoeClone, 13-Jun-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Mbo
Date: 12 May 00 - 05:39 PM

Thanks so much guys! You are great!! Expect this on a HearMe coming soon...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 13 May 00 - 01:52 PM

For a Full version look in Sir Walter Scott's book 'Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border ' it is titled 'The Original Ballad of the Broom of the Cowdenhowes ' it's a VERY long song. regards, Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: kendall
Date: 13 May 00 - 03:28 PM

Hey Zander, it's really nice to see someone properly say or write, TITLED.. most people mistakenly say or write ENTITLED.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: shankmac
Date: 14 May 00 - 02:55 PM

My grandmother was a housemaid at Cowdeknowes.

I think the 3rd verse,line 2 should be

Gan evenly and mourn, or gan early and mourn.

I have also seen it written and heard it sung as the girl singing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 14 May 00 - 04:09 PM

I thought it was "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The broom of the cowdenknowes."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 May 00 - 09:00 PM

There are a number of versions.  Mbo asked for the one recorded by the Black Family, which is the one we gave him.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 15 May 00 - 03:08 PM

Read carefully. I think it's a joke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 15 May 00 - 03:23 PM

I should have made it clear that I was replying to Shankmac's comment, not Chanteyranger's!  By the way, Shankmac, I didn't mean to snap at you.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 15 May 00 - 03:27 PM

I knew you'd get it, Melani. I assume Malcolm is unfamiliar with the old show The Shadow, which always began with "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The shadow knows."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Broom O' The Cowdenknowes
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 15 May 00 - 11:12 PM

Oops. Sorry, Malcolm. Your clarification hadn't appeared yet when I wrote the above.